No previous US President has bowed to the Emperor of Japan.
None of the other heads of state bowed to the Emperor.

Clinton ran into a little bit of hot water back in 94 when he appeared to be initiating a bow to the Emperor and was taken to task for it by the NY Times. The Chief of protocol said that "Americans do not bow" and that Clinton had not bowed.

I don't think is a huge deal. But it is funny to me. And as I predicted Obama's political enemies are today furiously frothing with outrage over this. I fully expect the picture to show up again at midterm elections.


"When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives."
Winter is Coming

Now this is the Law of the Jungleā€”as old and as true as the sky; And the wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the wolf that shall break it must die.
As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk, the Law runneth forward and back; For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.